Imperial Red C124

[Benzz1998]

They are so much wider than the standard ones.

 

[Benzz1998]

Few weeks ago.. it was raining really badly and the rear end kicked out… this is the outcome.

 

[Benzz1998]

After assessing the damage the crash bar is “slightly” bent. Still need to get someone professional to check it over.

 

[Benzz1998]

Tried to pull it out.

 

[Benzz1998]

This is the current state of the car atm.

 

[Benzz1998]

My plans for next year are to:

- Sort the front end - either go the standard bumper route or go all out and put an AMG kit on it.
- Overhall all the brakes.
- Twin pipe exhaust - Wanting a DTM look.
- Fix the Driver-side Seat belt butler.
- Order a Rear headers vacuum sensor
- Gearbox Service
- Diff Service
- Replace any bushings

 

[ALFAitalia]

Nice....but it does not look to me as if those rear wheels are in far enough too pass an MOT. The tyres can stick out a fraction....but the wheels must be completely under the arches when viewed from above.

 

[Benzz1998]

Since my last post, not much has been done on the car.

Had a look in my engine bay and looks like the harness may need rewiring some point.

 

[Benzz1998]

A nice member from Merc forum on Facebook offered me his grille for £40.

 

[Benzz1998]

Heres how it looks now,

I need to get disc brakes and pads all around but not sure whether to go for Brembo, OEM or MTec Brakes.

 

[Benzz1998]

Front Fender Fitment – DIY Wing Spacer Alternative​

I wanted to achieve a slightly wider stance on the front fenders, similar to the AMG W124 models, but I wasn’t keen on spending £60 on a pair of plastic spacers. Instead, I used washers to subtly push the fender out, mimicking the effect of the OEM wing spacers without the unnecessary cost.

The result? Better wheel fitment and a slightly more aggressive front-end stance—all done for a fraction of the price. I also rolled the arches slightly to ensure there’s no rubbing.

I’ll keep this setup for now, as it works well.

 

[Benzz1998]

Carpet Deep Clean – Night and Day Difference!​

Decided to tackle the cream floor mats, which were looking pretty tired after years of use. As expected, cream is extremely difficult to keep clean, but I wanted to see how much I could bring them back to life.

Used my George Corded Carpet Cleaner, and after a thorough wash, the difference is night and day! The mats have gone from a dull, dirty beige back to a fresh, clean cream. It’s really satisfying to see them looking this good again.

 

[Benzz1998]

Brake Upgrade – Mtec & Brembo Discs with Brembo Pads​

I tackled my first-ever brake disc and pad replacement on the car! I installed Mtec drilled and slotted discs on the front, along with Brembo rear discs and Brembo pads all around. The process went smoothly overall, but I had some trouble when attempting to replace the handbrake shoes—I ended up snapping the tension spring and decided to leave that job to the garage.

Visually, the new discs look fantastic, and so far, braking performance feels much improved, with better initial bite and stopping power.

 

[Ben73]

Finish product.

Looks great

 

[Ben73]

They are so much wider than the standard ones.

What is this style of wheel called?

 

[Benzz1998]

What is this style of wheel called?

They are called "P200 AMG replica Monoblocks: P200 AMG Replica Monoblock Split Rim Style 5 Spoke Wheel 8 X 18" Et35 X316 for sale online | eBay UK"

 

[Benzz1998]

Quick update on the Imperial Red coupe’s progress!


First job was sorting out a temperature issue – the car just wouldn’t get up to operating temp, so I swapped out the thermostat. Nice easy fix and it’s running as it should now.


The big win was finding – and now fitting – a Powerflow exhaust thanks to a really nice guy from the W124 Facebook group. Massive shout out to Pawel for making that happen! It’s now on the car and the difference is night and day – deeper tone, more character, and it just makes driving that little bit more special.


Also took the car over to Mercedes-Benz World, which was a great day out. It felt right at home among all the other stars of the three-pointed kind.

 

[Benzz1998]

One morning, my clear indicator lens just… fell off. Guessing it's something to do with the Fender mod..
Ended up ordering some amber corners from AliExpress – quality is rubbish, but they’ll do for now. Drilled one hole and wired the sidelights to run inside them, so I’ve now got that US-style side light look without any bulb warnings on the dash.
Finally got around to changing the spark plugs. I don’t think they’ve been touched since I’ve owned the car. Unfortunately, it’s made zero difference – still runs like shit.